2004. EA games finally got tired of 2K making a great game. Though Madden 2005 was good, NFL 2K5 was the best. So EA had to flex their muscle and ruin it all by settling with a 5-year deal with NFL Players Inc. Now EA...though getting a bit better... can shell out a game that really has no intuitive or innovative change from the previous year.

So I wonder, when are they going to take all the sports games over? I'm sure EA sits around sometimes and wants it all, but you need market competition to make people WANT the games. Since the next-gen Maddens started, I've never gotten that excited. All three have been pretty much the same, with 08 finally bringing back somedepth.

Last year I got NBA Live 07, played it for 2 minutes, and took at back for 2K7. The games are just stripped beyond belief. Can EA be bothered to make a good sports game? A good sports *simulation* game? I hope they get on the ball and take a page from 2K's book, which I've heard has started with NHL 08, but I still can't be bothered with some of the games. Even Tiger Woods, NASCAR, and NCAA08 feel lacking of way too much depth in gameplay.

I just can't help but think they will take all the sports games over, and just shell out re-wrapped renditions of the last years when it comes to gameplay and features. EA's exclusive NFL license ends in 2009, and if some NFLPA reps see what APF 2K8 brought back, I would hope they would return it to 2K sports, and re-light the competitive spark.

I_B/Aaron